Golden Boy

CBS is bringing another drama about police politics to primetime with Golden Boy, about an officer who becomes the youngest commissioner for the NYPD ever. Newcomer Theo James stars in the leading role as the titular golden boy of the force, and before the midseason series premieres next month, I'm giving you my first impressions of the pilot so you can decide whether to give Golden Boy a chance.

• What it's about: Walter William Clark Jr. (James) has become the youngest police commissioner of the NYPD in the shortest amount of time in history, and those around him have questions about how he got there. In present day, Clark breaks down his story, and we watch his trajectory in flashbacks while getting to know his secrets, his colleagues (played by Kevin Alejandro and Bonnie Somerville), and his mentor (Chi McBride).
• Where it works: The usage of flashbacks is an interesting way to tell Clark's story, and it manages to feel fresh. Plus, leading man James is pretty swoon-worthy eye candy.
• Where it doesn't work: Golden Boy isn't quite compelling enough to compete with other cop dramas. I found myself getting bored watching the pilot more often than I was entertained.
• You might like this show if: You never get tired of police procedurals.
• When it's on: Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS

Watch a preview and see some pictures from Golden Boy after the jump.

CBS's new midseason drama Golden Boy follows a young police officer who rises through the ranks to become the NYPD's youngest commissioner. The series is unique in that the story is partially told in flashback — you watch as Walter William Clark Jr. (Theo James) goes from a rookie to commissioner, but you also see him in present day as commissioner. The cast and executive producers came to the TCA to talk about why they chose that format, where you might recognize James from, and the Oscar-winning movie that inspired Golden Boy.

• Executive producer Nicholas Wootton confessed to being inspired by the movie The Social Network because of its portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg, and how he was a character with "drive and ambition and this sort of thoughtless forward-thinking I-don't-care-who-gets-burned ambition." Wootton, who was a producer on NYPD Blue wondered what it would be like to have a cop character with the same kind of "ferocious ambition," and the character of Clark was born.
• Ryan Phillippe was originally supposed to play the lead in Golden Boy, but when he dropped out, Theo James was cast. If James looks familiar to you, you're probably a Downton Abbey fan: he was the Turkish man who died in Lady Mary's bed in season one. James seemed to know what he was getting into with that role, saying, "When I did the show, I kind of felt like it was going to be a big deal . . . I mean, I'm on screen for about 20 minutes, and I still get people going, 'Mr. Pamuk.'"
• On the unusual format, in which present-day commissioner Clark talks about how he got to where he is, Wootton seemed to feel they made the right decision: "I love a story where you know the end."

Though CBS cut some shows from its schedule, the network is lining up its new series to fill up its schedule. Check out the details below to get up to speed on the brand-new shows you'll be seeing on CBS this Fall.

COMEDIES

• Friend Me: This comedy stars Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Nicholas Braun as best friends who move to LA to work at Groupon and struggle to be social when one would rather stay at home.
• Partners: Michael Urie and David Krumholtz play a pair of architects whose friendship has outlasted all their romantic relationships. Sophia Bush and Brandon Routh also appear.

DRAMAS

• Elementary: This take on Sherlock Holmes is set in present-day Brooklyn and stars Jonny Lee Miller in the Sherlock role, with the added twist of Lucy Liu as his colleague Watson.
• Vegas: Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star in this 1960s-era drama about a rodeo cowboy (Quaid) who becomes the sheriff of the city.
• Made in Jersey: A street-smart woman (Janet Montgomery) tries to prove herself to her colleagues at a New York law firm in this drama, which also costars Kyle MacLachlan.
• Golden Boy: This cop drama follows the rise of a man (Theo James) as he climbs the ranks from office to detective to police commissioner.